Salt Lake City is the capital and largest city of Utah, and also one of the largest cities in the Southwest region of the United States.

Salt Lake City is also known as one of the safest cities in the entire nation.

There is a surprising amount of diversity in the city, culturally, and the city is known as the least conservative and the most liberal city of Utah.

It’s also an outdoorsy city, being so close to the mountains.

Hiking and mountain biking is easy to access as there are trails in abundance wherever you go.

There are also great skiing and snowboarding opportunities.

Warnings & Dangers in Salt Lake City

OVERALL RISK : LOW

Generally, Salt Lake City is a very safe city to travel to. According to some sources, Austria is among the safest and cities in America. Still, never let your guard down in a strange city.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : LOW

Taxis and other means of transportation are, overall, very safe to use in Salt Lake City, though you may end up in severe traffic congestion you can't get out of for a long time.

PICKPOCKETS RISK : LOW

Pickpockets and bag snatching can occur but the issue with petty crime in Salt Lake City is nowhere near serious. Just be vigilant at all times and never leave your belongings in plain sight.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : MEDIUM

The country of Utah where Salt Lake City is situated has been through several terrible natural disasters over the years, from floods and mudslides to avalanches and snowstorms, and even tornadoes. It's hard to determine what disaster could hit which area but in case of emergency, follow the authorities' advice.

MUGGING RISK : LOW

You shouldn't worry about being mugged or kidnapped in Salt Lake City since it isn't a common occurrence: namely, compared to other major cities in the nation, Salt Lake City has relatively low violent crime rates.

TERRORISM RISK : LOW

Excluding isolated mass shootings, Salt Lake City hasn't been the target of any terrorist attacks recently, but the attacks shouldn't be ruled out. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK : LOW

There aren't many scams in Salt Lake City. Still, be wary of people trying to distract you to steal from you and of people overcharging you for various services. We advise you to be extremely careful when handling money and around ATMs.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

Salt Lake City is safe for female solo travelers. There are no issues that would endanger females specifically and you can mostly relax. Following basic precaution measures is still advised, though.

So... How Safe Is Salt Lake City Really?

As mentioned before, Salt Lake City is one of the safest cities in America.

However, like any city, you should be careful where you live or where you wander around in the early hours of the morning.

The biggest problem nowadays in Salt Lake City seems to be car break-ins and thefts, as well as bike thefts.

For this reason, never leave valuables in your car, because multiple people have reported break-ins.

As for the, let’s say, less safe neighborhoods and areas, there is more crime like petty theft in South Salt Lake than there should be (plus, the South Salt Lake police will tell you that this area may have more arrests than the west-side).

Quite a few parks in the county have drug addicts who live here.

Stay away from Pioneer Park when there isn’t a farmer’s market going on, Fairmont Park in Sugarhouse, and Murray Park for these reasons.

Overall, there are pockets of safe areas and for the most part, it really is a peaceful, wonderful place for hiking, dog-walking and cultural activities; but if you want to live downtown or in the fun areas, get an alarm system or a dog – the city is in America, after all, which is notorious for high crime rates.

Useful Information

Visas - The US is famous for its harsh policy for acquiring a tourist, let alone a resident visa. The US embassies usually ask for interviews before granting tourist visas, and tourists usually have to pay up to 160 USD to get a visa. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local US embassy for further information.

Currency - The United States dollar is the official currency in Salt Lake City. Credit and debit cards are accepted nearly everywhere, and ATMs are widely available. The prices vary but you can plan on spending about 100 dollars per day.

Weather - Salt Lake City has a semi-arid, temperate climate characterized by four distinct seasons: a cold, snowy winter; a hot, dry summer; and two relatively wet transition periods.

Airports - Salt Lake City International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located about 6.4 km west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States.

Travel Insurance - Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Salt Lake City, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

2 Reviews on Salt Lake City

Too opinionated. Lacking any substantial facts.

Natural disasters section is completely irrelevant.

Natural disasters section is completely irrelevant. None of those things are real issues here in Utah, and definitely not something a tourist would need to be worried about. Ever. I’ve lived here for 28+ years and have never encountered one of those issues.